Kenyan chief magistrate shot by cop in court dies

Kenyan chief magistrate shot by cop in court dies

Monica Kivuti was attacked after rejecting a bail request for the officer's wife.

The magistrate was shot by a police officer as she presided over a court session on Thursday. (AFP pic)
NAIROBI:
A magistrate in Kenya who was shot by a police officer as she presided over a court session has died, the country’s chief justice, Martha Koome, announced today.

Monica Kivuti, a magistrate at the Makadara law courts in Nairobi, was shot on Thursday after rejecting a bail request for the police officer’s wife.

The assailant was in turn shot and killed by other police officers.

In a post on the X social media platform, Koome said Kivuti had succumbed to her injuries.

“Monica Kivuti, principal magistrate, Makadara law courts, has lost the fight against the extensive injuries sustained during an open gun attack in court,” Koome said.

“The judiciary family stands in solidarity during this deeply traumatic time and calls for sensitivity and compassion as we share in grief.”

Three officers were also injured during the attack but Koome did not comment on their condition.

The policeman’s wife had requested release on bail after pleading guilty to obtaining 2.9 million Kenyan shillings by false pretences, according to a police report.

Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram

Subscribe to our newsletter and get news delivered to your mailbox.